Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. talks ahead of Texas A&M matchup
The month of January was not an easy one for the Florida basketball team, which faced a difficult lineup of competitors to open the Southeastern Conference schedule. The good news is that the Gators finished it off with a signature win over the Kentucky Wildcats on Wednesday, 94-91.
The victory was the first for the program on the road against a top-10 team since 2003, stretching back to a Billy Donovan victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville. It also marked a possible turning point for a squad that has worked hard to create team chemistry after being assembled from players from the transfer portal.
One of those student-athletes is guard Walter Clayton Jr., who has been a key cog in the wheel for the Orange and Blue this season. Take a look at what he had to offer ahead of the next game against the Texas A&M Aggies.
Did he feel his big night coming before that game?
No just my teammates and my coaches, everybody just telling me, just keep shooting the ball, every time I got a good look, just let it go.
Comments on shooting from beyond the arc
On having confidence in your long-range shot:
“For sure, every time I shoot of course, I’m going to think it’s going to go in. So I think that’s confidence, I think that’s with every good shooter, I think I still got a ways to go before I’m a great one, but yeah, just confidence.”
If he knows a shot is going in when it leaves his hand:
“For sure — definitely, you know when it’s good, especially after so much repetition, so definitely.”
Where his game-tying three-pointer ranks in his career:
“It’s probably up there toward the top. Off the top of my head, nah, I can’t think of any other one so it’s definitely up there towards the top.”
On the Gators picking up steam after a slow start in the SEC
It’s just poise, you know, a poised team, confident in what we do and just, I feel like nobody gets tight in those situations on our team, everybody kind of relaxes, knows the situation and just is able to come out with a win.
On Florida's signature win over Kentucky
It definitely means a lot. The Florida State one probably meant a lot more, I’m not going to lie, but Kentucky it was a good win obviously, a big rivalry, just happy to get the win for us and our fans.
Did Reed Sheppard's earlier block on him affect his play?
We were talking about that after the game, my teammates were talking about that, they don’t know how he got there. I don’t know how he got there, either. It was a great jump by him, he got a piece of the ball.
Yeah, that was definitely going through my mind. I know I had got him on a couple of pump fakes even before that, so that last one got him up in the air, got the shot.
Was he surprised that Kentucky didn't foul at the end of regulation?
Was I? I honestly wasn’t even thinking about that but yeah, looking back to it, yeah I am kind of surprised.
Building on Wednesday's win
Just keep going, keep doing what we’ve been doing. Obviously we’ve been on a winning streak right now just got to come into practice with the same mentality, do everything the same and just keep preparing the same, just keep that going.
Concerns about overconfidence?
Definitely a danger of being too happy, you know you could start slacking on some things. We earned this, it’s not given, we’ve got to keep on earning it. So there’s a danger in that.
What went through the Gators' minds as they entered OT
Just trying to string together a couple of stops, it was a few possessions we just couldn’t get a stop and that’s kind of what it seemed like. Just going into overtime we were talking about it just string together a few stops and we will get the win.
Has he ever released a three quicker than at the end of regulation?
Probably not, I don’t know. Just caught it, turned my body, let it go. So that might have been the quickest one all night.
What do the rankings mean to the team?
Being ranked? Um, nah. At the end of the day when everyone gets to March Madness, yeah the seedings and that play a little bit into it but it’s still going out there and it’s what, 64 teams, 68 teams, all got to come out there, top 68 teams in the country, got to win.
The formula behind Florida's unselfishness
I think we all just trust each other, trust plays a big factor into it, so just, us all trusting each other allows us to be unselfish. I trust Riley to take big time shots, I would pass it to him in the same situation, so I think that’s a big part of it, is trust.
Thoughts on Tyrese Samuel
Launching three-point shots:
“That definitely scares me. But, he done hit some, so if he’s open, let them fly.”
His baseline jumper in overtime:
“Yeah, to get us started in overtime. His midrange (shots), I’m coming around to them a little more. But the threes, they still scare me a little.”
How he has worked with him on shooting form:
“I’ve been trying, but whatever works for ’Rese works for him.”
Micah Handlogten vs Samuel from downtown
Micah’s form looks good, but I tell Micah, it’s just his arc. Micah shoots so flat. He’s probably hit a couple threes off the backboard, right? Yeah. As long as it goes in, I don’t know.
They both kind of scare me a little bit. But hey, if they’re going in, I ain’t got no problem with it.
What was the locker room like after the game Wednesday night?
Obviously happy. We were in there celebrating a little bit. Just enjoying that moment, you know. We just kind of talked about enjoying the moment right now, get over it and move on to the next game.
How did his family and friends react?
My phone was definitely blowing up. Still a couple people I gotta get back to. But yeah, just my mom, everybody, they congratulated me, telling me good game. They were happy for me and happy for the team.
Was this what he was looking for coming to Florida?
For sure. I was asked (after the game) is this like a program maker. This program has been great. You know, it’s a great program. We’re just trying to get back to that level.
Regarding Kentucky and former coach Rick Pitino
On the Kentucky win being a season maker:
“I guess you could say that. (Season) starter.”
On if he heard from Rick Pitino:
“Yeah. I text Coach P a little bit. I text him and told him I got the W at Rupp. Seen all his banners that he put up, great environment, things like that.”
On what Pitino said to him:
“He was just like, ‘Congratulations, take it easy on those Kentuckians.’”
Talking about team chemistry
I’d definitely say practice. We’ve just been going a little harder in practice, playing a lot more in practice and I think our practice is a big part of it. You know, we’re all getting used to each other’s game. Now you can kind of see it on the floor.
On Zyon Pullin's play so far
He’s definitely been giving me and Will some great looks. Things like that, I think it all starts in practice.
Team improvements at the charity stripe
Obviously a great relief. You know you’re missing two free throws every time you go every time you go to the line, it’s basically a turnover. So, I’d say it’s less turnovers. Great relief, more points on the board.
On shooting long-range jumpers... without jumping
I don’t know. I jump a little bit. I guess I don’t jump a lot. Some of my coaches be on me about how to use my legs enough in my shot. But hey, if it goes in, it goes in.
Was the side-step on the tying shot planned?
Nah. It’s just something we kind of work on, you know? Because they worry about my three, so just get them up in the air and kind of move to the side a little bit, let it go.
The challenge A&M’s Wade Taylor presents
If he’s going to beat us, make him beat us with his weakness. We’re just gonna try and force him to do his weakness, not allow him open shots, things like his strength, getting downhill, right. So just trying to take away his strengths and force him to play towards his weaknesses.
On TAMU's physical defense
I think it’ll be hard if we make it hard. Obviously, they’re a very physical team, so just being tough with the ball, getting open, being physical when getting open. I think our physicality is definitely going to play a big part into it.
How the Gators are preparing for the next matchup
I wouldn’t say we’re doing anything different. You know, obviously what’s working for us right now is working for us. We’re on a winning streak, so just trying to do everything the same, prepare the same way, just go hard in everything we do.
Next up
The Gators will travel to College Station to take on the Aggies on Saturday, Feb. 3, for the first game of the new month. The matchup is set to tip off at 4 p.m. ET and can be watched on ESPN2.
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